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How many Sabre guns is enough for an 1850 point list. I'm looking at running 5 Squads of 2 but is this over kill.

How many is too many? How many is a good solid number?

Is it best to set up the Infantry Squads to kill Infantry and the Sabres to kill tanks and Flyers. Or just make everything Anti-Tank?

I think 5x1 is about enough. They cost 52pts a pop for a TL LC, hardly the most killy thing for that cost in the IG Codex.
las melta on the IS's, blobbed, with a LC in the group (for LD bubble on the sabres).
Eartshaker batteries hidden away as well for more T7 and infantry killing.

Why take earthshakers when you can take multiple colossus? Sure the strength isn't there, but Str 6 AP3 smokes everything in, or out of cover. Between the Sabers, Vendettas, and the abundance of Plasmaguns..2+ armor isn't a problem. Add in a Manticore and you have a pretty beefy barrage heavy backfield.

Cause the batteries are cheaper, more survivable, receive orders and don't have the downsides of getting penned.

I run 2x3 with heavy stubbers for some surprisingly effective anti-infantry fire. When both intercept one squad they can knock out 5 marines, which is normally enough to knock out special weapons. Most people dont call cheese on bolter equivalent fire either.

Autocannon and lascannons are expensive, but are effective. 2x2 lascannons or 2x2 autocannons are good at dealing with fliers. however, the quad gun is generally a better deal in most instances.

How do you figure that one? 2x2 AC's is 8 shots, 2x2 LCs are 4 LC shots. the QG is just 4 AC Shots.

Quad gun is 50 points. AC sabres are 40 each. LC are 50 IIRC. 2x2 is 160 points for AC and 200 for LC. Quad gun is essentially 80 points of sabre output for 50 points. and BS4 usually

And, more importantly, you can only bring one quad gun. You take a single quad gun before taking your first AC Sabre gun, but taking that quad gun doesn't mean that you don't take Sabre guns in addition to it.

The QG costs the same as 1 sabre-LC, arguably the QG is better against AV11-12 fliers (it is really better overall due to the ease of getting BS4 on it but is more vulnerable in some ways as it cannot gtG). The ADL itself is worth taking just for the cover save and so shouldn't be counted as carrier cost.

What about squadron size? I've noticed both singular and triple-platform squads, but not pairs. I've personally been running my five Sabres in one trio and two singles. Is there a better way to do this? Because of mandatory HQs, I've got both a Commissar and CCS with regimental standard to boost their leadership, so I'm more than happy to risk the morale check for throwing guardsmen in front to absorb wounds. I could split my Sabres up five individual squadrons, which would allow them to split fire -- but then I couldn't really issue orders to them effectively.

I'm open to suggestions.

So the majority of people like to run a few small squads. I was considering taking several squads and using them for an Alpha Strike. The idea was to target enemy transports and tanks with the Sabres and Infantry with the Earthshaker Batterys & a Manticore.

I figured 52 points for a TL-Lascannon that is T7 was better Value than an Infantry Squad with a normal Lascannon for 70 points. The fact that it has Inceptor and Skyfire as well was just an Added Bonus.

Also twin-linked.

This is the list I'm looking at running I did it off the top of my head so forgive me if Points Costs are off etc.

Not sure if the Harker Squad is worth it there more there for flankers or relic grabs but this is about Sabres anyways.

Is 10 of them Overkill in a list like this or is it just what the doctor ordered?

Will do some juggling later on when I have my books in front of me but would rather an Astropath over the Comms and a Lascannon on CCS. But will play with that later.

HQ- CCS, Officer of the Fleet, Regimental Standard
95pts

T- Infantry Platoon
- PCS, Autocannon 40pts
- Infantry Squad, Autocannon 60pts
- Infantry Squad, Autocannon 60pts
- 2x Sabres- TL- Lascannons, 2x Extra Crew
104pts
- 2x Sabres- TL- Lascannons, 2x Extra Crew
104pts
- 2x Sabres- TL- Lascannons, 2x Extra Crew
104pts
- 2x Sabres- TL- Lascannons, 2x Extra Crew
104pts
- 2x Sabres- TL- Lascannons, 2x Extra Crew
104pts
TOTAL 680pts

T- Veteran Squad, Gunnery Sergent Harker, 3x Plasma Guns,
170pts

E- Guardsman Marbo
65pts

FA- Vulture Gunship, TL-Punisher Cannon, Heavy Bolter
155pts

FA- Vulture Gunship, TL-Punisher Cannon, Heavy Bolter
155pts

HS- Manticore, Hull Heavy Bolter
160pts

HS- 2x Earth Shaker Gun Batterys
150pts

HS- 2x Earth Shaker Gun Batterys
150pts

Fort- Agies Defense Line - Comm's Relay
70pts

TOTAL 1850

What was your rationale in taking a Manticore instead of a Medusa Artillery Carriage?

2 medusa's would cost more. He'd had to cut MARBO for it.

I also wanted the indirect fire it provides. Its there to finish off Armoured Targets, Strip off Quantam Sheilding and ID Nob Bikers. Its secondary role is Anti-Horde. 5-7 Pie Plates hitting a deployment zone each turn will kill something. Then Marbo can pop up, drop a Demo Charge, take over a Quad-Gun and then score line Breaker.

My other option was to drop the Harker Squad for a second Platoon loaded with Auto Cannons and then split the Sabres into 10x Squads of 1 between the 2 Platoons. This will give me 10 points and 15 extra bodies but means I'll be running a lot late game to take over objectives. I can't really decide between the two so will need to play test.

Have you thought of trading the manticore for a vendetta and stuffing the PCS into with 3x flamer instead of an AC? You will have alot of trouble taking mid and back field objectives with your current list.

Officer in the fleet is usually a liability for a list as you don't want your opponents flyers coming in all at once. You want to distribute them over 2-3 turns so you can intercept them.

Your a bit short on speed bump squads. Melee heavy lists that can close quickly (ie speed cult orks) will be a real problem if they have any luck at all. With your sabres bunched up in 2x they will eat through your army pretty easy.

You did not bring a lord commissar. You can expect your guys to run from the fight from 1 casualty to the sabre team about 50% of the time.

Medusa artty carriages are pretty meh now that they are direct fire 36".

I was considering taking the second platoon to give a bit of a speed bump effect to the list instead of the Harker Squad. What I'm Strugling with is when strengthen one area of the list it weakens another.

You are right though I do need more mid field units or untis that can advance towards the back field.

Another list I'm working on is a GK army that has Guard Allies in the form of the above Platoon with Sabre Guns. In that list the GK's are the advanced element and the IG hold the home field.

Cause the batteries are cheaper, more survivable, receive orders and don't have the downsides of getting penned.

Just wanted to point out that you can't issue orders to artillery batteries as they are artillery, and not infantry

TanKoL wrote:

Cause the batteries are cheaper, more survivable, receive orders and don't have the downsides of getting penned.

Just wanted to point out that you can't issue orders to artillery batteries as they are artillery, and not infantry

Just wanted to point out that the rules for orders say "non-vehicle unit" not "infantry".

Indeed, just re-read that ....
I'm pretty sure I read "infantry" somewhere in the orders entry ... maybe in my French version of the codex

Da irish are using French codex's? England save me, they're collaborating and soon will gang up!

edit:
and why does my flag say american.

Thanks for all the help. I'll be running 2x Platoons with 8 Sabres all in squads of 1. Also putting in a Commisar in exchange for Marbo. Changed out the Manticore for a Medusa Battery to keep with the theme and to have 0 AV on the table at the start of the game. Was able to get 2x Vendettas into the list and 1 Vulture so I can put the PCS's into the dettas loaded with flamers for late game objective grabs.

Again thanks for all the help my list looks pretty solid now.

Now just be careful not to loose all your friends due to running such a tough list.

Lol trust me my friends don't play nice. Theres the guy who runs 9 Vendettas, Another Guy who runs a Necron Flyer Spam list, Another guy who is putting together a SM list with 6 flyers with Allied BA to get a 7th flyer he also runs a heavy Drop pod army. Then theres the Belial army with nothing but Termies. My list is tough but will still be in for a decent fight.

Quad gun is limited to 1 per force org.

Sabers have more wounds.

Saber crews can go to ground for a 2+.

Sabers are scoring units.

A quad gun still has it's place, but sabers score, and scoring wins games.

The look on your friends faces when they get intercepted x8 will be priceless then.

God yes. I usually play mech guard and get smashed every game because I can't shoot anything till after it arrives and smashes me. But now the tables are about to turn.

Sinji wrote:How many is too many?

This question doesn't make sense.

If you're already going to be taking expansion units associated with the Imperial Guard, then there is absolutely no reason whatsoever not to spam as many of these as is possible. FW has no idea whatsoever what game balance means, and this is a great opportunity to use that cluelessness to your favor.

 Ailaros wrote:

Sinji wrote:How many is too many?

This question doesn't make sense.

If you're already going to be taking expansion units associated with the Imperial Guard, then there is absolutely no reason whatsoever not to spam as many of these as is possible. FW has no idea whatsoever what game balance means, and this is a great opportunity to use that cluelessness to your favor.

Sadly this is the case. I was looking through the Ork section of the Aeronautics book and came across the Flakka Trakk and thought this looks cool. It basicly had a massive Quad gun on the back so I figured it must be good. After reading the rules for it though there is no way of fielding it with the Flakka Gun even though the model comes with one. I think someone forgot to proof read before hand.